Question

Can we call an "alif" and "alif with a hamzah on top" both hamzah?

Answer

A common mistake that many Muslims, including Arabs make is that they mix up the name of alif and hamzah.  The alif is the plain line  that is preceded by a fat-h.  There are no vowels on an alif, the true alif is always saakinah preceded by a fath.  The hamzah on the other hand sometimes “sits” on top of any of the three medd letters: , , , sometimes it sits on a “tooth”: , and sometimes it does not sit on anything: .  All of these are hamzahs (hamzaat), there is no difference between them in pronunciation or in name.  Spelling or dictation rules determine whether the hamzah “sits” on a wow, alif or ya’.